I thought it would be wise to start off the New Year with one of the aphrodisiac world’s most powerful ingredients. Pomegranate has been in the news more than any other of my favorite foods. Recent studies have linked the great, crimson fruit of the gods to everything from healthy cholesterol levels, slowing growth of cancer and arterial health. Pomegranate is truly the fruit of the moment. In fact, thanks to POM’s new ad campaign, Eat Something Sexy’s web traffic has increased by 1/3 with people thirsting for knowledge of pomegranate’s aphrodisiac power!
And now to you and only you, my dear, faithful readers, I offer my most in-depth and up-to-date information on the antioxidant-rich muse of Aphrodite.
Pomegranate was regaled as a culinary symbol of Aphrodite by the ancient Greeks. Some say the forbidden fruit of the Bible was not an apple at all, but a pomegranate fruit. In other Western lore, the mythological unicorn was tied to a pomegranate tree. Since the early days of the written word, the promise of the pomegranate has made a lasting impression as a sensual symbol, appearing in poetic works of great authors from Homer to Shakespeare.
As a health aid, the fruit’s uses stretch back as far as recorded time. In the Orient, pomegranate has been used for generations to treat depression, settle sore stomachs and neutralize internal parasites. Rich in vitamin C, pomegranate juice makes a delicious substitute for OJ for anyone under the weather. It has also been used successfully in South East Asia to treat bronchitis and gastrointestinal ills.
Pomegranate is a noted source for three different antioxidants and is considered one of the finest culinary sources of all three. It is likely the benefits of these antioxidants that helped originally give pomegranates an aphrodisiac reputation. (They are also the inspiration for the 23 different American clinical trials on the health benefits of pomegranates in 2010 alone.)
While the FDA is yet to sign off on most of the pomegranate’s curative powers, the fruit is believed to have the power to reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol and may also be beneficial to blood flow, colon and gum health. The most recent buzz on pomegranate may be the biggest. In December of 2010, it was reported that a study conducted by the University of California found pomegranate juice to slow the spread of prostate cancer. The findings are only initial but the implication is that the nutrients in the fruit’s juice may be able to retard the growth of all cancers. All in all, pomegranate may just be one of the world’s healthiest foods!
The ruby jewels of the Middle East, pomegranates can be served in a multitude of ways from cocktails to desserts. Splash pomegranate juice in your drink for a pretty-in-pink Shirley Temple or pop seeds into champagne for one of my favorite, simple cocktails. I also like to toss the claret kernels with fennel and balsamic for a simple, winter salad.
Pomegranate may be one of mother nature’s finest foods but it can also be one of the messiest. To deseed pomegranates, score the rind in several places and soak the fruit in a bowl of water. Then rip the flesh apart with your fingers and loosen the membranes, freeing the seeds into the bowl. Alternatively, break off a section of the whole, ripe fruit and tap the rind side with a spoon, coaxing the seeds to fly loose into an empty bowl. Or, in the true sensualist's method, spread a pile of newspapers on the coffee table, rip the fruit apart and pop out the seeds with your fingers while watching romantic comedies from your Netflix list.
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